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Tatshenshini - 2. Dalton Post to Alsek (Dry Bay)

Tatshenshini, British Columbia, CA/Yukon Territory, CA/Alaska, US

2. Dalton Post to Alsek (Dry Bay)

Usual Difficulty

III (for normal flows)

Length

140 Miles

Avg. Gradient

19 fpm

Alsek River Hazard/Thing of Beauty

Alsek River Hazard/Thing of BeautyPhoto of Grounded Iceburg in Alsek River mainstem by Craig Irwin taken 07/15/03 @ 9000cfs

Gauge Information

Name

Range

Difficulty

Updated

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River Description

The Tatshenshini River is located within the boundaries of Canada, but because it ends with a
paddle out on the lower Alsek, with a take-out on Dry
Bay in Alaska, the run is typically included in guides to both Alaskan and Yukon whitewater. The
run from Dalton Post to Dry Bay is generally an approximately 36-hour float, but is best
stretched out over 8 to 10 days. Many consider this one of the finest wilderness river runs in
North America. Be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions. The heat and bugs in the upper
reaches usually contrast the fog and glacial chill of the lower half of this mighty wild river.

The Tatshenshini-Alsek Park is bordered by the adjacent national parks of Kluane in the Yukon and
Glacier Bay and Wrangell-St Elias in Alaska, creating a 97,000 square kilometer ecological unit
and bi-national World Heritage Site. Situated in the extremely rugged northwest corner of British
Columbia, in 1993 it became the fourth component in the largest international protected area in
the world. Half the landscape is permanently covered in snow and ice–the other half fosters
forests and tundra and stable populations of wildlife untouched but for a historic aboriginal
presence. To ensure the preservation of the entire ecosystem, the Tatshenshini and Alsek are
completely protected from headwater to source, creating the only large river drainage in North
America that is completely safeguarded.

The whitewater on this run comes at the start, a few miles from the put-in below Dalton Post.
Here the river enters a short canyon section with class-III whitewater, making day one unique
from the rest of the trip. Below this point there are rapids but generally the river is
characterized by strong currents and eddy lines as the river grows to an impressive size. The
hydraulics associated with these features can surprise those not paying attention. When you reach
the confluence at the Alsek River 77 miles into the trip, the river makes a dramatic jump in size
and power.

As you continue downstream you'll reach Alsek Lake where the Alsek and Grand Plateau Glaciers
flow into the lake, calving off massive chunks of ice and creating a wonderland of icebergs. If
you're lucky enough to have a clear day, Mt. Fairweather rises above the landscape to the
southeast. The icebergs create unique hazards as they can flip without warning and can also form
river-wide dams or sieves, particularly in the main channel at the entrance to Alsek Lake. As you
enter the lake, marked by Gateway Knob which rises up on river right, the safest course is not
the main channel but along the left shore.

After you leave the lake there is a short section of rapids before you start to see cabins. A
side channel to the left takes you to the air strip at the fish processing plant. If you are
unsure of the route, be sure to stop and spend some time to figure it out. If you miss the
appropriate channel you will need to haul your boats back upriver.

Logistics

The first order of business in planning your trip is to obtain an information packet and permit
information for the river. The trip takes you through Yukon Territory (Kluane National Park),
British Columbia (Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park), and Alaska (Glacier Bay National Park);
river use is regulated and coordinated by these park units.

Most trips, start at Dalton Post although you can add up to another 20 miles, and some of the
best whitewater, by using alternate access points upstream on either the Blanchard or Upper Tatshenshini. Dalton
Post is in the Yukon, a short distance north of the BC border, and 104 miles north of Haines, AK.
Haines can be reached by ferry out of Juneau which makes a good meeting place for those flying
in. Another alternative is to fly or drive to Whitehorse in the Yukon, then over to Haines
Junction, and south to Dalton Post.

The four mile road down to Dalton Post turns off Haines Road (Hwy 3) to the west; look for this
turn just north of the Haines Road bridge across the Takhanne River. The put-in is just usptream
of the Klukshu River confluence with the Tatshenshini. Visitors using the access at Dalton Post
(aka Shäwshe) are reminded that they are on lands legally owned by the Champagne and
Aishihik First Nations. Please respect their land use regulations and requirements.

While you can drive to the put-in, logistics from the take-out get a bit more complicated as you
need to arrange for a charter flight out. The Park Service can provide information on current
charter services, but you'll probably want to fly from Dry Bay to Yakutat, where you can get
commercial jet service. Make sure you have factored in the logistics of hauling your gear out.
Most river runners use rafts so if you do take a hardshell make sure it will fit in the plane
you've arranged. Keep in mind that poor weather conditions on the coast may mean that you
won't be able to get a flight out the day your arrive; be prepared to wait through cold and
wet conditions for suitable flying weather.